That is if you’re an Authorized Person Outside of Residence or APOR.
On Monday, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has confirmed that vaccinated commuters can avail themselves of free rides starting from August 3, Tuesday, up until the end of the lockdown in Metro Manila on August 20, Friday. This includes rides aboard the Light Rail Transit-Line 2 (LRT-2), the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3), and the Philippine National Railways (PNR).
“Simula bukas, libre na ang pamasahe ng mga bakunadong APOR (Authorized Persons Outside of Residence), kahit nakaka-isa o dalawang dose na ang mga ito,” said Tugade in a press statement on Monday.
According to Tugade, commuters only need to present their vaccination cards as proof of inoculation to avail of free train rides.
The Department of Transportation has also waived terminal fees for buses and jeepneys stopping at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) starting Monday. The Philippine Ports Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and the Manila International Airport Authority have also pledged to provide free food and drinks to travelers queuing inside piers and airports.
“Ang inisyatibong ito ay napagkasunduan ng buong Kagawaran ng Transportasyon upang makatulong sa pagpapanatili ng kalusugan at kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan, at upang matulungan ang gobyerno na mahikayat ang ating mga kababayan na magpabakuna,” Tugade added.
While the offer covers the rail lines of LRT-2, MRT-3, and PNR, no such news has been announced for the Light Rail Transit-Line 1 (LRT-1), as it is owned by a consortium of private corporations.
